The Milwaukie neighborhood district association leadership group, composed of officers from the seven neighborhood district associations, chose to avoid the public meetings law Tuesday night by giving up its monthly meeting time with the City Council.

The leadership group formed organically about six years ago so the officers could informally hash out common problems. Over time, the participation fluctuated, but after a casual meeting at a former member’s house, the group has grown in power and participation. However, while the neighborhood district associations are created by the city, and a city staff member takes minutes at each neighborhood’s meetings, the leadership group had no ties to the city formally. Until it started meeting with City Council once a month.

“It’s the relationship with the council that triggers (the law),” City Attorney Tim Ramis said, because the meeting, in which the group regularly makes informal recommendations and requests to the council, moves the group toward and advisory role.

From now on, the leadership group will only meet with council on an irregular basis when the group seeks out time in the council’s work session agenda. Also, a city staff member will no longer take minutes, and members of the media do not have the right to attend meetings.

“For a long time, we felt that we could talk about anything fairly freely without it being spread all over town within five minutes,” said Linda Hedges, co-chairwoman of Hector Campbell neighborhood district association.

Both the City Council and the leadership group members said they valued their meetings each month. The leadership group may ask only two councilors to attend meetings, because if enough attend that they can vote, the meeting would become public.

“I love the fact that you all get together and have cross-community discussions,” Mayor Jeremy Ferguson said. “I think it’s fantastic.”